Improvement in folding-chairs



J. H. TRAVIS & E. H. MAHONEY.

Folding Chairs.

Patented Nov. 26

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AM. PHOTO unmmrmc mm MJSBOENES macrssq UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. TRAVIS, OF GHARLESTOWN, AND EUGENE H. MAHONEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING-CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,503, dated November 26, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J OSEPH H. TRAVIS, of Gharlestown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, and EUGENE H. MAHONEY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State aforesaid, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding- Ohairs; and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a folding-chair having cross-legs, and under it the cross-legs of the chair are linked together in such manner that, with the legs opened,they are held firm and fixed in proper position by such link connection, the seat of the chair being so arranged that when the legs are open it will rest at front and rear upon suitable supports of the chair-legs, and when the legs are folded it can stand upright within the lower portion of the legs, the seat being free from the chairlegs at its front side, and at its rear side hun g thereto, so that, without detachment, it can have a movement in the direction of its thickness.

In the accompanying drawing our improvements in folding-chairs are illustrated, Figure 1 being a side elevation of a chair constructed according thereto when opened or in a position for use; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the chair shown in Fig.1 when folded; and Fig. 3, a plan or top view of the chair as shown in Fig. 1.

A and Bin the drawing respectively representthe two sets of cross-legs of the chair, the one set A being within the other set B, and the two pivoted together at G O, as ordinarily. The set A forms the front legs of the chair, and the set B the back legs; and, as ordinarily, by the extension of the front legs A is formed the back-frame D of the chair. a, cross rounds or bars, connecting together and stiffening the'two sets of legs A and B. b and 0, two rounds, one, b, connecting the rear legs together near their upper and front ends, and the other, 0, the front legs. This round 0 is in the same horizontal plane, or nearly so, as the round b, and on the two rounds b and 0, when the chair is opened, rests the seat board or frame E. This seat E, at its rear end, is within the back D of the chair; and at such end, by elongated loops f, two in number, is

hung to its cross-round support a, as shown in Fig. 1 more particularly. F F, two bars, made of a similar curvilinear shape from end to end,

and with a similar curvilinear slot, g, along their length. These bars F F are, at one end, by pivots m, hung to the inside of the rear legs, and, at their front and upper ends, just below the round-support b'for seat-board, one bar to each leg B; and from thence, with their convex edge h uppermost, they extend to the rear portion of the front legs A, and are connected to them, one to each, by headed pins 1, which pins pass through their curvilinear slots 5 and are such as to allow the bars to play freely over them and yet hold them from escape. The seat E, except as herein described, is free and clear of the cross-rounds b and c.

A chair constructed as above described operates as follows: If the chair be opened the link-bars limit the extent to which the legs can open from each other, and hold the legs firm and rigid in position. The bars, as is obvious, relieve the leg-pivots of agreat deal of strain, and, 'in fact, are the only agents in the chair which act to hold the legs in their proper open position. If the chair be closed or folded the link-bars oifer no obstruction thereto, but, as is obvious, assume a position within the chairframe, substantially as shown; and, by the elongated loops f of chair-seat, the seat can and does have sufficient movement in the direction of its thickness to come within the lower portion of the legs, assuming a vertical, or nearly vertical, position.

In lieu of two link-bars, F, more or only one may be used, and they may be formed and applied, and the effect of the loops may be socured, by pivoting the seat in slots 1 of the chair-frame, as shown in detail, Fig. 4.

Having thus described our invention, we shall state our claim, as follows:

The seat supported upon the chair-frame by a slotted or loop hanging, essentially as described, in combination with the cross-legs A and B and link-bar or bars F, for operation substantially as set forth.

J. H. TRAVIS. E. H. MAHONEY. Witnesses:

EDWIN W. BROWN, J. P. McELnoY. 

